In the Classic Rock/Hits formats, stations must constantly walk a line between living in the past and being a contemporary media outlet. All the music is older, and so are many, but not all, of the listeners. As we continue trying to survive in a 25–54-obsessed media buying environment, attracting new, younger listeners while not losing the station’s core is a constant struggle. NBC, with its recent acquisition of broadcast rights for the NBA and MLB Sunday Night broadcasts, now finds itself in a similar situation.
A recent article in Front Office Sports website points out that, as the home of the NBA from 1990 to 2002, NBC was the network of record during what may have been the league’s most popular era. It was when Michael Jordan was in his prime and the Chicago Bulls won all six of their championships.
NBC’s connection with baseball goes back even further. The network has been home to thirty-nine World Series broadcasts, including being the first to televise the Fall Classic in 1949. It was also where the Game of the Week and Monday Night Baseball lived for more than forty years, starting in 1957.
So, let’s look at some of the tactics NBC is employing to tap into the nostalgia of the network’s history while not ignoring the need to attract younger fans:
Personalities
On the basketball side, NBC invested in, and heavily promoted, having Michael Jordan as a “special contributor.”
While plenty has been written about how impactful, or not, these segments have been, the hype of tying basketball coverage back to one of the greatest to ever play, who was synonymous with the years NBC covered the league, appears to be paying dividends with big ratings.
On the baseball side, the network is bringing back Bob Costas, one of the most respected sports broadcasters of a generation, who spent forty years involved with NBC’s baseball broadcasts.
At 73 years old, Costas said this will likely be how he wraps his storied career. “I don’t need a brass band and a parade, but if we can do some good work, have some fun, and it feels like the right concluding chapter, I think everybody will be gratified by that.”
Production Value
The network is tapping into even more nostalgia through graphics and other parts of its production. For basketball, they brought back the instantly familiar “Roundball Rock” theme that kicked off games in the nineties.
While we have yet to see a baseball broadcast, NBC executive producer Sam Flood says, “There will be an acknowledgement of nostalgia,” in their plans.
Innovation
The network is not only relying on nostalgia to bring in audiences. For the NBA, analysts are delivering “on-the-bench coverage” from positions located near the teams on the floor.
They are also working with augmented reality in the studio to create more in-depth breakdowns of the action, and games on Peacock include a “Performance View” with real-time statistics.
Again, while we have to wait to see what they have in mind for baseball, Flood has promised similar updates to the traditional broadcast.
Now, let’s consider how that applies to our radio world.
Talent
Tapping into heritage talent in your market can make a giant difference in how your station is perceived. Much like NBC did with Michael Jordan, that doesn’t have to mean a full-time position. There may be other creative ways to leverage a name synonymous with the music on your station without a major commitment.
Production
Sparing use of jingles, IDs, produced elements, and sounds from the early days of your station, or even another local station that was in your format, can easily tie your station to the market’s history without completely disrupting your contemporary presentation.
Innovation
While looking back for inspiration, continuing to find new and unique ways to present the music, to be part of your market, and to tie the station to current events and trends will help ensure that you remain intriguing to new, younger listeners.
There isn’t a simple blueprint for how to leverage nostalgia. No one handed the team at NBC a roadmap.
Instead, I’m challenging you to think outside your usual boundaries to find ways to create unique connections that only your station can deliver.
It’s not easy, but the results, much like the ratings NBC’s basketball games have been pulling, could be worth it.
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Turning Point USA saw several million concurrent viewers for its All-American Halftime Show, running opposite the NFL’s official Super Bowl Halftime Show on Sunday.
The show — featuring Kid Rock, Lee Brice, Brantley Gilbert, and Gabby Barrett — saw over 5 million simultaneous viewers on the Turning Point USA YouTube channel.
Other avenues available for the stream included Charlie Kirk’s YouTube channel, which topped more than a million concurrent viewers, while an additional 225,000 viewers watching on Rumble channels from TPUSA and Charlie Kirk.
Viewers could also watch the performance on Daily Wire+, Real America’s Voice, Trinity Broadcasting Network, Charge!, and The National News Desk.
Blake Neff, a producer for The Charlie Kirk Show, said on social media that “the audience kept going up throughout the competing show.”
The country music stars’ performance aired directly against the NFL’s show, featuring rapper Bad Bunny. His show included surprise appearances from Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, among others.
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Last year, new methodologies from Nielsen helped propel Super Bowl viewership to ‘new heights’. Chiefs-Eagles on Fox set a new record, totaling 127.7M viewers across all legal platforms in the US.
Super Bowl LX offers a different set of circumstances. This time around there is no Patrick Mahomes. Instead, NBC has a matchup between two teams that few people at the start of the season would have projected to make it this far. How will this impact viewership? Is there a path for NBC to top Fox?
Super Bowl 49 Rematch
The Seahawks and Patriots square off in a Super Bowl rematch, eleven years removed from Malcolm Butler’s stunning goal line interception. In a bit of irony, NBC was also the broadcaster of that game. I am of the belief—and I am not alone in this—that had Nielsen employed the same techniques it uses presently to measure viewers, Super Bowl XLIX would to this day be the most-watched program in US television history.
The hype for XLIX was unreal. This was Seattle’s attitude era. Legion of Boom. Marshawn Lynch and his Skittles, only here so he ‘won’t get fined’. Many considered Russell Wilson to be on a Hall of Fame trajectory. The team was looking to go back-to-back. That iteration of the Seahawks captured the nation’s attention, no small feat for a franchise located in the Pacific Northwest.
The Patriots of course had Tom Brady and while frequent Super Bowl participants, they were still reeling from consecutive heartbreaking title game losses to the Giants several years’ back. The early days of the DeflateGate investigation loomed large. There was a distinct narrative being brandished about questioning whether they could ever get the job done again. The game was a pick ’em at kickoff. Many expected it to be a compelling and close contest.
And it delivered.
Pros and Cons of the Super Bowl LX Matchup
It’s pretty safe to say LX does not garner the same amount of hype. Make no mistake, Mike Macdonald and Mike Vrabel both deserve tremendous praise for the turnarounds they have orchestrated. This version of the Seahawks and Patriots certainly have talented skill players—Jaxon Smith-Njigba, former Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp, Stefon Diggs to name a few—but they aren’t exactly household names. The most intriguing personality is probably Mack Hollins with his bare feet and WARRIORS chant. Cool but nevertheless he’s not a WR #1 or #2. There are not many big personalities here who are capable of driving ratings.
The same can be said of the starting quarterbacks. With all due respect to Sam Darnold and Drake Maye, neither has the luster of Patrick Mahomes. Seattle has a vaunted defense and the Pats’ D similarly has stepped it up in the postseason. The casual viewer though isn’t particularly interested in that level of X’s and O’s. When it comes to an event of this magnitude, perhaps key above all else is the extent the casual viewer, the person who’s not obsessed with sports, who only watches a handful of games a year, is engaged. These two teams, despite their storied histories, are no longer part of the cultural zeitgeist they once were. At initial glance, early signs point to LX falling short of LIX’s viewership watermark.
How NBC Can Prevail
There is a way NBC can come out on top over Fox though. It starts with a unique card up their sleeve which could serve as a useful tool to attract the casual viewer. This month the network has the trifecta of the Super Bowl, the Winter Olympics, and the NBA All-Star Game. Surely by now you’ve caught one of their ‘Legendary February’ promotions—they’re everywhere. The idea here is that each of these events in turn promotes the others.
Obviously the Super Bowl is the golden goose, towering over the other two properties. Network execs nevertheless believe they have crafted an environment that lifts all ships. While the Winter Games aren’t the ratings juggernaut as their Summer counterpart, the Olympics are that type of sporting event which the casual viewer typically finds compelling enough to watch. Expect NBC to use the Opening Ceremony on Friday, two days before the Super Bowl, as a springboard for attracting more casual viewers on Sunday.
Similar to four years ago, NBC again is utilizing the Olympics as lead-out programming for the Super Bowl. Just after the confetti drops and the Lombardi Trophy is presented, NBC jumps right back into its Milan Cortina 2026 coverage. They are presented with quite the challenge. Earlier on Super Bowl Sunday, decorated skier Lindsey Vonn returned to the Olympic stage at age 41. It was already one of the top stories of these Games, made even more compelling by the fact she had ruptured her ACL just over a week ago but would still compete. A video of her doing a series of intense leg exercises mere days before the downhill quickly went viral. This had the makings of an epic comeback. Unfortunately, it was not to be—mere seconds into her run Vonn suffered a devastating crash and subsequently had to be airlifted.
The whole ordeal was rough to watch live. Now, NBC has to decide how they’ll cover this moment when they show taped coverage of the downhill in primetime. As a longtime Olympics broadcaster they are used to adjusting on the fly. They may have to do so here. Will they edit out anything—her screaming, the number of replays, the crowd’s reactions? The shift in tone from Super Bowl euphoria to haunting images of an American hero suffering a literal and figurative fall is a difficult undertaking.
It’s made slightly easier by the fact Vonn’s compatriot Breezy Johnson took Gold in the event. Still, it’s not an enviable task for any broadcaster. Surely, once the clock hits triple zeroes at the Super Bowl everyone will already know what happened to Vonn. Many surely will stay up to watch this moment unfold either again or for the first time, regardless of what happens between Seattle and New England. The framing is different—it is more a story of tragedy than triumph—but eyeballs will be glued to it. Having the Olympics as shoulder programming can only help the Super Bowl. It might not make an enormous difference, but undoubtedly it will add to the game’s final viewership average.
The Nielsen and Bad Bunny Effect
This is the second Super Bowl which Nielsen will include its expanded out-of-home (OOH) metric, which has been an absolute boon to NFL and college football broadcasts. This is the first Super Bowl which Nielsen will apply their “Big Data + Panel” (instead of their previous Panel only) methodology. OOH is more responsible for recent increases than Big Data but the latter without question will provide a further boost. NBC will also include their Adobe Analytics numbers in their final total, as is network policy. NBC is also in more households than last year’s broadcaster Fox.
Then of course there’s the streaming component. Peacock finally broke out of its doldrums and gained 3M subscribers in Q4, reaching a total of 44M. Peacock is behind a paywall / needs authentication from a cable or satellite provider. That’s in contrast to Fox from last year, who made the Big Game available on the free ad-supported television (FAST) platform Tubi, which only required an email address. Economics aside, it should come as no surprise that Fox here has the advantage, given the easier level of access.
Bad Bunny could also play a role here. The artist, coming off his Grammy win for Album of the Year, takes the mic for the Halftime Show. His selection has not come without controversy. A vocal opponent of ICE, Bad Bunny doubled down on his stance in his Grammys acceptance speech one Sunday ago. He also sings exclusively in Spanish, something English-speaking audiences may not be accustomed to. Given his stardom among the Latino community, expect Telemundo to outperform the typical Super Bowl Spanish-language broadcast. The bigger question becomes whether English-language viewers will tune in at the same levels at which they usually do for halftime performances and whether his political stance will turn some people away.
Key Issues
Everything else being equal, a closer game will result in more people watching. Last year’s game was far from a barn burner as the Eagles quickly jumped out to an insurmountable lead. Given the lopsided result, many were tempted to ‘turn this TV off’ but surely a sizable percentage nevertheless stuck around just to affirm the Chiefs were in fact mortal. They wanted to witness the fall. Unlike their matchup from eleven years ago, Seattle is the hands-down favorite. The on-field product from the Patriots offense has left much desired this postseason.
Many also question whether the Patriots are a legitimate contender or the beneficiary of one of the league’s all-time easiest schedules. Likewise, while Darnold had a great NFC Championship, he still is best known for his collapses. If LX gets out of hand early in favor of either squad it’s hard to imagine people will be as keen to stick around as they did for Eagles-Chiefs.
There are other factors which could tip the scales one way or the other. Another impact of the Chiefs’ absence: no Taylor Swift storyline this time around. Do not underestimate the impact of that. Like an envious ex keeping tabs on their old lover who’s undergone a glow up, the greater NYC market will tune in to see Darnold. California residents may be more interested in a local Super Bowl than one held in New Orleans. Vast portions of the US have been subjected to colder than average weather the past couple weeks, which could keep public get-togethers down (of course people can choose to just watch at home so it could net out). Breaking political news could siphon off people’s attention.
Expectations
To be clear, Seahawks-Patriots is far from the worst-case scenario. If things shook out differently in the earlier rounds of the playoffs we could have been presented with a matchup of ‘small-market teams’ like the Panthers and Jaguars. It also could have been a lot better. Imagine what a Bears game would have garnered. In LX we get to address the question of how immune the NFL is to a Super Bowl matchup without marquee names.
People are quick to forget, but there was undoubtedly some fatigue surrounding Chiefs-Eagles in New Orleans. It was the second time they squared off for the Lombardi in 3 years. Still, LIX without question is far sexier than LX.
Barring a complete slugfest of a game, Seahawks-Patriots has a pathway to hit a higher reported figure. The new Big Data methodology, the additional Adobe Analytics numbers, Olympics shoulder programming, presumably a larger Latino audience tuning in, plus some ahem, ‘prodding’ from interested parties for Nielsen to ‘capture’ every viewer could be enough to tip the scales in NBC’s favor.
Jake Kline is an attorney specializing in sports and entertainment law. He can be reached at jake.a.kline@gmail.com. Follow him on X/Twitter @JakeAKline.
ESPN’s experiment of repositioning the NFL’s annual all-star showcase deeper into Super Bowl week has produced low results, as the 2026 Pro Bowl Games delivered one of the lowest television audiences in the event’s modern history.
According to Nielsen data, only 1.919 million viewers watched ESPN’s Pro Bowl coverage on Tuesday night, representing a staggering decline of roughly 60 percent from last year’s audience. The figure continues a downward trend for an event that has struggled to maintain relevance amid format changes and growing fan apathy.
The Pro Bowl Games drew approximately 4.7 million viewers in 2025, a number that already reflected a sharp drop from historical norms. This year’s move to a Tuesday night window — combined with the NFL’s decision to fold the event into Super Bowl festivities — appears to have accelerated that slide rather than reverse it.
For the first time, the league staged the Pro Bowl in the same city hosting the Super Bowl, with events held at San Francisco’s Moscone Center. The league followed the games with the annual NFL Honors ceremony on Thursday evening, attempting to create a weeklong celebration of its star players and storylines.
Instead, the Pro Bowl’s latest iteration has reignited debate over whether the event still serves a meaningful purpose. Since rebranding as the Pro Bowl Games in 2023 and eliminating full-contact football in favor of flag football and skills competitions, the league has faced persistent criticism from fans who feel the showcase no longer reflects the sport’s competitive identity.
That frustration intensified this year due to controversy surrounding player selections, which relied heavily on public voting. Travis Kelce was named to the roster despite a down season with the Kansas City Chiefs, before later withdrawing because of injury. Rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders also received a Pro Bowl nod after only a limited number of starts with the Cleveland Browns, drawing widespread criticism across social media.
On the field, the NFC — coached by Hall of Famer Jerry Rice — defeated the AFC 66–52 in a high-scoring flag football matchup. While the game itself delivered entertainment value for some fans, it did little to stem concerns about declining interest.
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When Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless reunited for a candid conversation on The Arena Gridiron podcast, the discussion quickly turned reflective, defiant, and unapologetic. More than a decade after their final appearance together on First Take, the two polarizing figures pushed back against long-standing criticism that their style damaged sports media rather than elevated it.
Bayless acknowledged that detractors still accuse the duo of lowering industry standards through debate-driven programming. However, he rejected the premise outright.
“I still hear people say that you and I ruin sports media. We destroyed it with our style or whatever. It’s ‘Screaming A. Smith’ and ‘Skip Baseless,'” said Bayless. “That’s all we ever heard. If I may say so myself, I think we revolutionized it.”
Ratings success played a central role in that defense. Bayless pointed to sustained audience growth during their run as evidence that chemistry, not controversy, fueled the show’s appeal. While imitators followed, he suggested that few replicated the balance of entertainment and substance that defined their dynamic.
“No one has ever quite matched the chemistry that maybe God above gave us,” said Bayless. “Can’t teach it, or coach it. It just worked, and it was entertaining, and enlightening. It was just fun.”
Smith echoed that sentiment, while adding context about the resentment that often follows visibility and success. According to Smith, criticism frequently stems from professional envy rather than principled disagreement.
“It’s a lot of BS when it comes to that stuff because you got a lot of jealousy, envy,” said Smith. “People look at what we’ve been able to achieve, and they’re like, Why them? Why not us?”
That rise, Smith explained, did not happen by accident. Both men entered television from print journalism backgrounds at a moment when newspapers were rapidly losing relevance. Smith described an acute awareness that traditional reporting roles were shrinking, while opinion-driven platforms were growing in value and reach.
“We saw the forest from the trees. Both of us were in newspapers, and we saw the industry dying. We saw them transitioning from that to dot com,” explained Smith. “We would run into radio hosts that didn’t know s**t. We were up there making $75-$100,000 while these cats making $300-$400,000 just to talk for two hours on the radio. I was like, I need to find out more about that industry.”
Rather than abandoning their journalistic roots, Smith argued that he and Bayless adapted them. Preparation, sourcing, and perspective remained central, even as the industry embraced debate and performance.
“The industry was evolving, and it was changing, and it was getting more into talk and stuff like that,” said Smith. “Skip knew he could talk. I knew I could talk, and we got the information. We weren’t worried about anybody else. That’s what we did.”
Years later, as sports media continues to wrestle with its identity, Smith and Bayless remain steadfast in their belief that First Take was not the problem. In their view, it was the blueprint.
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The feud between Erika Kirk and Candace Owens shows no signs of stopping. Owens helped reignite the fuse this week.
Erika Kirk appeared on Fox News with Trace Gallagher to explain why she’s supportive of the transparency in Utah courts relating to the case against her husband’s assassin.
During her show on YouTube, Owens shared her opinion that Kirk’s plea for transparency rang hollow. She then made comments directly toward Kirk, positing that she knew it would get back to the Turning Point USA CEO.
“I wanted to write this open letter to Erika because I know that Turning Point USA watches every episode of this podcast, and that people then take what I say back to her and give her notation,” said Owens. “So, I would appreciate it if the elves at Turning Point USA would just let her see this in its entirety. Because more information has become available to me, I am feeling well. I’m feeling some type of way.”
Candace Owens then read an open letter to Erika Kirk before turning her attention to other executives of the organization. In total, her comments lasted more than 20 minutes.
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Michael Wilbon did not sound nostalgic during his appearance Friday on The Dan Le Batard Show. Instead, the longtime NBA analyst sounded exhausted, frustrated, and increasingly disconnected from a league he has covered for decades.
Wilbon’s criticism centered on two intertwined issues that he believes are eroding the NBA’s relationship with its audience: player availability and the growing confusion surrounding where fans can actually find games. While the league continues to post strong revenue numbers and expand its media footprint, Wilbon suggested that the everyday viewing experience has quietly deteriorated.
“I hate it this week more than ever,” Wilbon said, describing an attempt to watch a regular-season matchup between Oklahoma City and San Antonio where many of the stars of the game didn’t play.
“Whether you paid to see in person or at home on one of the nine streaming services. You don’t even know where the games are,” said Wilbon. “Is it on Prime? ESPN? NBC? NBA TV? Where the hell is the game? I can’t find it.”
Wilbon noted that fans often discover key players are unavailable only after tuning in, regardless of whether they paid for tickets or a streaming subscription. Compounding that frustration is the league’s increasingly fragmented television and streaming landscape. With games spread across multiple platforms, Wilbon argued that even informed viewers struggle to keep track of where marquee matchups are airing.
“I was with Charles Barkley one night in Arizona. We’re having dinner, and we were like, we got to go watch that game. Charles and I both look at each other and say, where’s the game,” explained Wilbon. “Two people who are employed to talk about basketball on national television don’t know where the damn game is.”
Beyond accessibility, Wilbon took aim at what he sees as a widening gap between modern player resources and on-court availability. While acknowledging that today’s athletes are “bigger, stronger, faster, more athletic,” Wilbon questioned how advancements in sports medicine, technology, and training have coincided with a dramatic reduction in games played by star performers.
“Dudes used to wear canvas shoes with no tape, and they played 82 [games]. Now guys have everything, and they can’t play 60 games,” questioned Wilbon. “I don’t like that. I hate that. And it may not be just the NBA, but the NBA seems to major in that right now.”
Wilbon’s comments reflect a broader concern among veteran observers who believe the league’s regular season is losing meaning and influence with viewers. While postseason interest remains strong, he suggested that fans are growing weary of a product that requires more effort to find and offers less certainty once it is located.
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MS NOW is set to broadcast a primetime special related to the Epstein Files on Friday evening.
Revealed: Inside the Epstein Files will air at 10 PM ET on Friday evening.
Ali Velshi and Stephanie Ruhle are slated to host the special broadcast. According to MS NOW, the show will “examine the biggest takeaways and discuss the lack of accountability in this case with a survivor of Epstein’s crimes.”
The primetime special comes one week after the Department of Justice released a new batch of files. Included in that release were more than 3 million documents pertaining to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier convicted of sex crimes.
The Epstein Files special will air for just one hour. The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle will air as normal at 11 PM ET on Friday night.
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Cumulus Media has named longtime Cincinnati media executive Trey Dolle as Vice President and Market Manager for its Cincinnati cluster, placing a familiar industry leader in charge of one of the company’s most established Midwest markets.
Dolle brings three decades of media experience to the role. Most recently, he served as Vice President and General Sales Manager for Bally Sports Ohio. During his 11-year tenure with the regional sports network, Dolle played a central role in driving revenue growth. He also navigated significant changes across the local media and sports broadcasting landscape.
“I am thrilled to join Cumulus Media Cincinnati. With our powerful brands and strong digital marketing service options, we have the ability to drive incredible results for our clients and I look forward to working with our talented team to do just that,” said Dolle.
Before his leadership role at Bally Sports Ohio, Dolle spent three years as National Sales Manager for Fox Sports Ohio. His background also includes time at Hearst Television’s WLWT-TV in Cincinnati, where he worked as both a national and local sales manager and account executive. His career began in radio, giving him a full-circle return to the medium he now oversees.
Cumulus operates five radio brands in the Cincinnati market across music and spoken-word formats. Those stations include 96 Rock (WFTK-FM), 103.5 WGRR, 94.1 WNNF, 92.5 The Fox (WOFX-FM), and Warm 98 (WRRM-FM). Beyond broadcast radio, the company continues expanding digital marketing offerings for local advertisers. That is an area where Dolle’s cross-platform experience will play a significant role.
Cumulus Media President of Operations Dave Milner said Dolle’s deep ties to Cincinnati and extensive sales background made him a natural fit for the position.
“We are pleased to have him at the helm of our vibrant Cumulus Cincinnati station cluster. We know he will drive growth and create value for our partners and listeners with his deep understanding of the market and connection to the community,” said Milner.
A lifelong Cincinnatian, Dolle holds a bachelor’s degree in communication arts from Hillsdale College. His professional career has also included active community involvement. That service includes work as a board advisor for the Southwest Ohio Council on Child Abuse. He has also held leadership roles in youth athletics. Those roles include serving as an athletic commission president and a football coordinator for local grade schools.
Dolle resides in the Cincinnati area with his wife and has four adult children. As he steps into the market manager role, Cumulus signals a continued focus on local leadership, advertiser solutions, and community connection within one of its core Midwest markets.
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It’s been five years since The Volume was born. Longtime sports talk host Colin Cowherd founded the platform in February 2021, channeling his entrepreneurial spirit and enterprising tendencies to create a new and innovative destination for content creation.
Since then, The Volume has grown into a massive podcasting and content platform, recently bolstered by a new presenting partnership with Hard Rock Bet that was signed this past September. To celebrate the company’s success, an annual Wednesday night party preceding the Super Bowl was established. It has become one of the best events of the entire Super Bowl week experience.
Audrey Chames, The Volume’s chief of staff, is responsible for organizing the annual event. This year’s celebration featured two floors packed with media professionals reflecting on the rapid proliferation of the business venture. Mister Jiu’s in San Francisco’s Chinatown district served as the host location.
In honor of the fifth anniversary, some of broadcasting’s most recognizable figures showed their support while enjoying conversation and cocktails in a lively atmosphere.
Those in attendance included Dan “Big Cat” Katz, Eric “PFT Commenter” Sollenberger, and Kayce Smith from Barstool Sports. WWE superstar Seth Rollins also made an appearance. Annie Agar, Chef Cuso, Biggie Bailey, Insane Shayne and West Wilson were among the digital creators spotted throughout the venue during the bash.
Cowherd attended the event alongside Logan Swaim, chief content officer, and Dane Aagaard, chief revenue officer for The Volume. Numerous on-air talents from the outlet were also present, including Richard Sherman, J.A. Adande, and John Middlekauff.
The Volume Staff (Courtesy The Volume)
Executives across the sports media industry joined the celebration too. Omaha Productions co-founder and president Jamie Horowitz, and Head of Development Colin Campbell were on hand to celebrate. Chris Balfe of Red Seat Ventures, Premiere Networks president Julie Talbott, Silver Tribe Media CEO Michael Klein, Words + Pictures CEO Connor Schell, and ESPN executive Mike Foss also were present.
Former NFL players in the room included Robert Griffin III, Steve Smith Sr., Ross Tucker, and Bussin’ With The Boys stars Will Compton and Taylor Llewan. OutKick founder and nationally syndicated radio host Clay Travis was also in attendance.
Richard Sherman, Taylor Lewan (Courtesy Of The Volume)Makeshift Project (Courtesy of The Volume)Robert Griffin III (Courtesy Of The Volume)Kayce Smith (Courtesy Of The Volume)John Middlekauff (Courtesy Of The Volume)Bussin With The Boys (Courtesy of The Volume)
Cowherd launched The Volume in partnership with iHeartMedia in 2021, agreeing to a deal in which both companies would co-produce the shows released through the network. The venture debuted with five offerings, including Cowherd’s flagship podcast. Today, The Volume boasts more than 20 shows and generates approximately 1.5 billion monthly impressions across platforms.
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